St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt’s request for an immediate release has been knocked back with CEO Ryan Webb adamant he will not only remain for the rest of this season but fulfil his contract until the end of 2025.
Hunt signed a two-year contract extension with the Dragons in October last year but when the club sacked close ally Anthony Griffin last month, speculation began that the 33-year-old could lobby to follow him out of the door.
“Ben is contracted through to the end of the 2025 season and is a big part of the current and future plans of the Dragons as the club builds towards achieving sustained success in the coming years,” said Webb.
“We’re committed to working with Ben to understand and address his concerns as we all have the same goal of building a strong and successful club.”
The Maroons star was not convinced by the appointment of Shane Flanagan as head coach at the Dragons and formally requested to leave the club that he joined in 2018.
As first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, he has been disillusioned with the direction of the club in the wake of Anthony Griffin’s sacking.
Hunt confirmed to NewsCorp on Sunday morning that “the club has been made aware of my request for a release”.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
The Blues are expecting he will have little trouble neutralising the outside noise as he returns to Suncorp Stadium as a Maroon for the first time since his match-winning performance in last year’s series decider.
“Ben Hunt’s a very experienced player,” Blues assistant coach Greg Alexander said. “He’s been through contract situations before. It’s water off a duck’s back.”
Flanagan had told 2GB earlier on Saturday that the halfback was in his plans and would remain at the club.
“From the club’s perspective, Ben Hunt will be there,” he said. “He’s got a contract. I spoke to Ben before I actually signed because I didn’t want to become the Dragons coach and then (have) our halfback wanting out of the club, and he was fine with all that if I was to get the job.”
In the now unlikely event that he manages to be granted a release, he will not lack for suitors.
Hunt’s future has been in doubt for months, with the halfback courted by several NRL clubs, including Sydney rivals Canterbury and the Gold Coast Titans.
The Raiders, who have salary cap space following the impending departure of Jack Wighton, will be in the mix, as will the Tigers after Luke Brooks announced his intention to leave.
The Dolphins, too, are on the lookout for a marquee player. They and the Titans would be considered among the favourites given Hunt’s stated desire to return to his native Queensland when he retires and his history with Redcliffe coach Wayne Bennett, whom he played under at Brisbane.
Hunt has previously expressed support for the decision to appoint Flanagan for 2024.
“I think it’s what they needed,” he said during the week in Maroons camp. “He’s obviously shown he can do it before. He’s won premierships and knows what it takes to build a good team and successful club. I think that’s why they went in that direction.
“I haven’t talked to Flanno or anyone since the decisions were made. At the moment I’m getting through Origin camp and then I’ll talk to those guys.
“There’s always a couple of clubs interested that have thrown their hat in the ring.
“I’m not going to go into too many details. I haven’t had any official offers or anything from anyone at all. At the moment I’m contracted to the Dragons.”
For their part, the Dragons have no shortage of other playmaking options, with highly touted local products Junior Amone and Jayden Sullivan currently jostling to partner Hunt in the halves.
Griffin’s loyalty to Hunt had previously been a source of tension at the Red V. Sullivan requested an early release from his own contract in October when Hunt blocked his path to a full-time role in the starting side.
He later recanted and remains tied with the club through 2025, with Amone signed on until 2024.
with AAP
Good Grief
Roar Rookie
Hunt’s future at StG is an issue for the club and Hunt to resolve privately. All the froth and bubble from everyone else is irrelevant.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Just as poorly thought of. UNwanted by Titans is about as low as you can go...
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Woohoo!
Heyou
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Heyou
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Sorry? I can’t believe I just read that. The SGI Dragons deserved more than he gave over his years at the club. Get out your yearly stats and check it. The true story is within those numbers. I’m pretty sick of being as mad as a cut snake but all this sticking up for him just sticks in my craw… I should look that up because I don’t even quite know what it means but it seemed about right. I’m out. I’ll shut the heck up. :shocked: :sick:
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Nah we have a pretty decent nine. We don’t need him.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Making excuses for his shabby behaviour? Walk a while in Dragons’ supporters shoes. His every wish has been granted until Hook was fired. Toys and lollies are flying. Pandering to his needs to the detriment of team stability has resulted in ‘I don’t like you anymore. Taking my toys and I’m outa here.’ ffs. I feel sorry for him for about 10 minutes per day and the rest of the time I’m just disappointed and seething.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
He’s chucking his toys out of the cot! Poor bloke has had a gut full? I’ve had a gut full too.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Flanagan is NOT Griffin, whose game plans and strategies revolved around the halfback with not much else in his limited bag of tricks. Hunt knows Flanagan’s coaching style and it might not suit him one little bit.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
They are notoriously slow at the communication business at the SGI Dragons base. Everything changes…
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Sloan will come good with decent coaching and training. Fullback is a strategically attacking position and he is showing good signs in that department. He needs a bit of weight on and a judo instructor apparently because a good one will teach him how to take any bloke down… but that might result in the old hip drop. Hmmmm? Rethink?. Haven’t given up on Amone entirely either if Hunt goes. A different style of halfback could have him firing. Who knows.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
He could’ve left five years ago and I wouldn’t have batted an eyelid.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
One can imagine the blow up from the player's union if a club decided to tear up a contract and send a player packing just because. Assume they'll stay under their rock on this one....
KenW
Roar Rookie
I should say that while it's not great to skip out on a contract, if he really doesn't want to be there then I don't have any issues with the Dragons releasing him. It might even be for the best long-term, without any knock on Hunt's continued top-shelf performance. We have long term plans for Sullivan and Amone, while the Dragons could use the cap space to fill a genuine hole like a high end prop (and still have a fair bit in reserve). I just don't like the way he's going about it.
Kingston Town
Roar Rookie
Umm except he wont play 9?
KenW
Roar Rookie
But at least he’s being upfront. But he's not even there, if this were just about not being interested in Flanagan's reign he would be having those conversations in person and requesting to leave at the end of the year. The only reason to make a request for an immediate release while in Origin camp is that some big offer has appeared if he can jump right now. And it's a disappointingly low act for a club captain.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah I don't think he comes out looking shiny. But at least he's being upfront. He's saying quite clearly and honestly that's his heart's not in it. Maybe he shouldn't have said it publicly? I dunno ... If I were the incoming coach, I would want to know and I would at least consider supporting a release, if only just to clear the decks and prepare the successors.
KenW
Roar Rookie
You’re right, he’s not the type to throw the toys. I would have backed this statement 100%, but this is a pretty underhanded call he's making right now. Requesting to back out of the new contract he signed in the off-season already wouldn't be great, but unfortunately it's not particularly noteworthy for the NRL. But sending a request for an immediate release while away in origin camp, especially as the club captain, is pretty low on the integrity meter.
matth
Roar Guru
I would be a Reynolds-like situation at Brisbane and that's going pretty well. Hopefully the dogs would plan for post Hunt better than the Broncos are for post Reynolds.